Renderings of the human body have been observed since prehistoric times, and it has continued to inspire artists for centuries. While the subject matter is of the traditional genres in art history, our 4th Biennial Nude Exhibition explores the theme of the nude figure through a contemporary lens. “The Enduring Figure” is a juried group show presenting artworks surrounded around this ever persistent theme. While the subject matter is the nude form, the content of the individual works go beyond skin deep to study the psyche and the human condition.

A woman emerges from the base of a tree in Fred DiGiovanni’s playful study of the body in nature, “Nude in Tree.” Several artists in the show recall the ideals and practices true to the history of the nude in art, as seen in Claudia Hammer’s skillfully rendered oil painting, “KB Reclining.” Some works explore the anxiety and vulnerability that being naked can bring, as in Anne Garavaglia’s “Shh it’s Just a Bad Dream.” Others utilize the unclothed body to express a sense of freedom, as in Aurelia Nascu’s “Relaxation.” Nascu whimsically depicts a nude woman reclining freely in a dreamy world evoking Marc Chagall sensibilities. A Cubistic reclining figure explores the geometric simplification of form in Lucretia Beatty’s “Goddess.” In Ancient Greece, the female nude was only seen in art as a modest embodiment of divinity; contemporary artists now take the next step to overtly express human sexuality, as in Brian Stastny’s “The Reading Lamp.” Since antiquity, the male nude was often relegated to assertions of strength in deities and warriors, ignoring male sexuality. Logan Brody’s expressionistic painting “Walter Reclining” offers a contemporary counter to this previous norm in a way that recalls artist, Sylvia Sleigh.

The nude figure is a timeless exemplification of universal humanity that expresses countless facets of the human experience. “The Enduring Figure” will run from November 25th – February 4th. The Opening Reception will be held at Kaviar Gallery on November 25th 6-9PM during the F.A.T Friday Trolley Hop!